Improvement in animal-pokes



H. AMES.

ANIMAL-POKE. N0.175,'Z34. Patented March 28,1876.

NVENTEHK PLFETERS, Pblom-umosmvuan, WASHINGTON, o c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER AMES, OF MEXICO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANlMAL-POKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent.N0. 175,234, dated March 28, 1876 application filed February 10, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOMER Aims, of Mexico, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Poke; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, refcrence being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in animal-pokes and it consists in the arrangement and combination of parts that will be more fully described hereinafter, whereby the construction of the poke is simplified and cheapened.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detailed views of the same.

a represents the collar, which has its lower ends bolted to the usual sockets or castings b, and is adapted to being adjusted up and down, so as to suit the size of the animal to -which it is applied. The lower ends of the castings b have their ends perforated, and are secured to the projection c, that is bolted to the upper end of the poke d by the pivot-bolt c, that passes horizontally through all three. This bolt has a spring-catch, g, recessed in its side, which projects outward far enough to catch behind the casting after it has been passed through, to prevent it from becoming accidentally unfastened. Formed 0n the upper and lower edges of the projection c are the flanges i, which act as stops to the movement of the poke up and down by striking against the castings, and thus prevent the animals from giving the poke a toss that would raise it up to the top of the fence, when they can easily jump over. Where no stops are provided for controlling this upward throw, jumping horses soon get so used to getting the poke over the top of the fence that the poke becomes perfectly useless as a means of preventing the horses from jumping the fence.

In the end of the poke d is embedded a pricking device, 1, of any kind, which projects outward a suitable distance, and is covered over by the sliding cap 2, under which, around the prick 1, is placed a suitable spring, 3. This cap 2 has an opening through its top, through which the prick projects when the cap is pressed inward, and a number of slotted ears, 4, which project down over the top edges of the poke and act as guides to keep the cap straight. The cap rests against the horses breast, and protects him from the prick 1 until the lower end of the poke strikes against the fence or other similar object, when the spring yields under the pressure, the cap moves downward, and the prick enters the horses breast, and hurts him just enough to warn him not to go near the object again.

By placing the prick in the head of the poke the cost of construction is greatly cheapened and the parts simplified.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the poked, prick 1, placed in its head, cap 2, and spring 3, substantially as described.

2. The projection 0, having the flanges or stops 2', substantially as specified.

3. The combination of projection 0, stops i, castings b, poke d, and pin or bolt e, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

' HOMER AMES. Witnesses:

L. H. OoNKLIN, L. G. BALLARD. 

